Herring Gull
| Irish Name: | Faoileán scadán |
| Scientific name: | Larus argentatus |
| Bird Family: | Gulls |
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Conservation status
Conservation status
Status
Resident along all Irish coasts, with some interchange between Ireland and west Britain.
Identification
A large gull, which in adult plumage has light grey upperwings, showing black tips with white 'mirrors' (white at the very tips surrounded by black); the rest of the plumage is white. Similar to Common Gull in colouration, but separated by size, Common Gull is much smaller and shows larger, more conspicuous white 'mirrors' at the wing tip as an adult. Adult birds have heavy yellow bills with a orange spot on the lower bill, the head is pure white in the summer and streaked in the winter. The legs are pink at all ages. Herring Gulls have four age groups and attain adult plumage after three years when they moult into adult winter plumage. Juveniles are brown with finely patterned feathers which fade in the first year, especially the wing and tail feathers which are retained through the first summer. Juvenile and first year birds, do not have any plain grey adult like feathers in the upperparts and can be difficult to tell apart from immature Lesser and Great Black-back Gulls. Grey in the upperparts develops from the second winter onwards, initially mostly in the mantle and back and becomes more extensive over the wings as the bird moves towards maturity. Younger immature birds have a dark terminal tail band which becomes less prominent as they get older, adult birds lack this band completely.
Voice
Calls are strident and loud.
Diet
Both predator and scavenger, often feeds on the coast and follows fishing boats and uses landfill sites.
Breeding
Breeds in colonies around the coast of Ireland and also inland in Co. Donegal and Co. Galway. The biggest colony in Ireland is on Lambay island off Co. Dublin with over 1,800 nests.
Wintering
Widespread on the coast and inland.
Monitored by
Wintering birds are monitored through the Irish Wetland Bird Survey. Breeding seabirds are monitored through breeding seabird surveys carried out every 15-20 years.
A widespread resident around the coast, Ireland plays host to Internationally important numbers of Herring Gulls. Regularly seen nesting on roofs, in County Dublin and Co. Waterford especially.
Numbers grow considerably during Winter with the arrival of birds from Scandinavia.
Blog posts about this bird
Summer Gull Guide
[vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" column_margin="default" column_direction="default" column_direction_tablet="default" column_direction_phone="default" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="left" row_border_radius="none" row_border_radius_applies="bg" row_position_desktop="default" row_position_tablet="inherit" row_position_phone="inherit" overflow="visible" overlay_strength="0.3" gradient_direction="left_to_right" shape_divider_position="bottom" bg_image_animation="none"][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_tablet="inherit" column_padding_phone="inherit" column_padding_position="all" flex_gap_desktop="10px" column_element_direction_desktop="default" column_element_spacing="default" desktop_text_alignment="default" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_backdrop_filter="none" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" column_link_target="_self" column_position="default" gradient_direction="left_to_right" overlay_strength="0.3" width="1/1" tablet_width_inherit="default" animation_type="default" bg_image_animation="none" border_type="simple" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text css="" text_direction="default"]One of the first fun facts you learn as a birder is that there is technically no such thing as a ‘seagull’. While there are dozens of gull species, none of them are specifically named seagull. Shocking, we know.
So, if you're a little behind on your gull identification, don't worry. Ireland is a hotspot for many visiting and resident gull species for you to get to know. Here are some species you might see this summer and how to tell them apart. Just to note, these tips are for adult gulls, juvenile and young birds are a whole other ballgame!
A white head, yellow beak, grey wings with black and white tips. Their legs are yellow green, though juveniles have pink legs. Despite their name Common Gulls are only our fourth most common Gull in Ireland. Their breeding colonies are primarily on lakes and coastal islands in the west, with some on the east coast in Dublin, but we get thousands spending the winter here from Scandinavia and northern Europe.
Next up, we have the Kittiwake, which is technically our only actual sea gull, as they are the only ones that are strictly marine. Their appearance is almost the same as Common Gulls, but Kittiwake feet are much darker, and their wings lack any white mirrors and only show a solid black wing tip.
The Lesser Black-backed Gull has dark grey upper parts, along with the black tipped wings with ‘mirrors’. These gulls look and resemble the Herring Gull, but they have a much darker back and yellow legs. Lesser gulls are also coastal like Herring Gulls, but unlike the latter, Lesser gulls nest in large numbers on some inland lakes.
The only other black-backed gull we have in Ireland is the Great Black-backed Gull, which are much bigger, have a chunky bill, and are almost all coastal.
Despite its name, Black-headed Gulls only have black (actually dark brown) heads during the summer months. They are slightly smaller than a Common Gull but can be easily distinguished by the thick white leading edge to outer wing, which can be seen at some distance. A blackish area bordering the white leading edge of the underwing is also evident. These gulls can be seen both on the coasts and inland throughout Ireland. Black-headed Gulls are actually our most numerous gull species, both during the breeding season when they nest on inland lakes, ponds and bogs, and in winter when our Irish-breeding birds are joined by individuals from the UK, northern Europe, Scandinavia and even as far away as Russia. In winter you’ll find them all over the country, on the coast and inland lakes, in parks and towns, and feeding in grassland fields.
A recent colonist, the Mediterranean Gull arrived in Ireland in 1995 and first bred in the Republic in 1996 in Co. Wexford. The largest colony is now at Lady’s Island Lake in Wexford – an NPWS conservation project, managed in recent years by BirdWatch Ireland. Small numbers also nest on inland lakes in Black-headed Gull colonies. They appear to look like the Black-headed Gull but show a distinctive all black hood, compared to the choclatey brown hood of the black-headed gull, which reaches further down the back of the head and neck. Unlike any of the other gulls listed so far, the Mediterranean Gull has an all-white outer wing.
There are a handful of other species you may see soaring around, but keep your eyes peeled for some of the tips and tricks you've learned so far. To learn more about bird, visit our page for a List of Ireland's Birds. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Herring Gull
For beginning birders, when you close your eyes and picture a gull, the description of a Herring Gull is probably what you're imagining. Adults have white heads and light grey upper wings with black tips with white tips during the summer (pro tip: the whites at the very tips surrounded by black are called 'mirrors'). One of the most defining features is the orange spot on the lower bill and their pink feet. The largest colony of these gulls live on Lambay Island, though they can be seen throughout the coasts of Ireland. They’re also the main urban-nesting gull in Ireland and breed in our cities and as far inland as Athlone (though in small numbers).Common Gull
A white head, yellow beak, grey wings with black and white tips. Their legs are yellow green, though juveniles have pink legs. Despite their name Common Gulls are only our fourth most common Gull in Ireland. Their breeding colonies are primarily on lakes and coastal islands in the west, with some on the east coast in Dublin, but we get thousands spending the winter here from Scandinavia and northern Europe.
Common GullKittiwake
Next up, we have the Kittiwake, which is technically our only actual sea gull, as they are the only ones that are strictly marine. Their appearance is almost the same as Common Gulls, but Kittiwake feet are much darker, and their wings lack any white mirrors and only show a solid black wing tip.
KittiwakeLesser Black-backed Gull
The Lesser Black-backed Gull has dark grey upper parts, along with the black tipped wings with ‘mirrors’. These gulls look and resemble the Herring Gull, but they have a much darker back and yellow legs. Lesser gulls are also coastal like Herring Gulls, but unlike the latter, Lesser gulls nest in large numbers on some inland lakes.
The only other black-backed gull we have in Ireland is the Great Black-backed Gull, which are much bigger, have a chunky bill, and are almost all coastal.
Lesser Black-backed GullBlack-headed Gull
Despite its name, Black-headed Gulls only have black (actually dark brown) heads during the summer months. They are slightly smaller than a Common Gull but can be easily distinguished by the thick white leading edge to outer wing, which can be seen at some distance. A blackish area bordering the white leading edge of the underwing is also evident. These gulls can be seen both on the coasts and inland throughout Ireland. Black-headed Gulls are actually our most numerous gull species, both during the breeding season when they nest on inland lakes, ponds and bogs, and in winter when our Irish-breeding birds are joined by individuals from the UK, northern Europe, Scandinavia and even as far away as Russia. In winter you’ll find them all over the country, on the coast and inland lakes, in parks and towns, and feeding in grassland fields.
Black-headed GullMediterranean Gull
A recent colonist, the Mediterranean Gull arrived in Ireland in 1995 and first bred in the Republic in 1996 in Co. Wexford. The largest colony is now at Lady’s Island Lake in Wexford – an NPWS conservation project, managed in recent years by BirdWatch Ireland. Small numbers also nest on inland lakes in Black-headed Gull colonies. They appear to look like the Black-headed Gull but show a distinctive all black hood, compared to the choclatey brown hood of the black-headed gull, which reaches further down the back of the head and neck. Unlike any of the other gulls listed so far, the Mediterranean Gull has an all-white outer wing.
There are a handful of other species you may see soaring around, but keep your eyes peeled for some of the tips and tricks you've learned so far. To learn more about bird, visit our page for a List of Ireland's Birds. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Mediterranean Gull
Spread your wings with a stay at Cape Clear Bird Observatory in 2024
Think of an island of just under 6km² in size and you would be forgiven for believing that your options for things to see and do are limited.
Yet, on making the crossing from Baltimore to Cape Clear Island in County Cork, you will pass through a portal to endless natural wonders.
Take it from Steve Wing. 25 years since first moving to the island to take up the reins as Cape Clear Bird Observatory’s Wildlife Officer, he is still making discoveries.
“There are all sorts of things to discover here. It is a great place to gain enjoyment and knowledge about any aspect of nature,” he said. “When it comes to the natural world, the learning is endless. If you take up birdwatching, you will by default start asking more questions. ‘What’s that moth or butterfly? ‘What’s the tree they’re feeding in?’ You want to follow on. The more you learn about one thing, the more you want to learn about another.
We don’t just do birding here; we do all sorts of things. I’m still learning about moth identification, for example. That’s as much a lesson for me as anyone else.”
Steve Wing
As the home of the Republic of Ireland’s only bird observatory and one of the best places in Europe to observe migratory seabirds and rarities, Cape Clear is a magnet for birdwatchers all around Ireland, and beyond. But what is it about this island that makes it such a haven for bird life? “It’s location, location, location basically,” Steve responded. Indeed, Cape Clear's remote island location on the southwestern coast and mild climate make it a hot spot for an abundance of species. Many of those who visit Cape Clear to birdwatch today are following in the footsteps of the “pioneers” who founded the Observatory, as Steve explained. On a visit to Cape Clear in 1959, a group of young birdwatchers from England discovered many rarities and noted the potential Cape Clear Island offered for observing bird migration. Owing to their enthusiasm and a subsequent anonymous donation, the wheels were set in motion for the establishment of the Bird Observatory we know today. In 2000, Cape Clear Bird Observatory came under the ownership of BirdWatch Ireland, just two years after Steve took up his post. You can read more about the history of Cape Clear here.
Steve Wing Cape Clear Wildlife Officer in doorway of CCBO. Photo: Brian Caffrey
Steve’s work at Cape Clear varies, depending on the time of year. Between April and September, he is kept busy running his extremely popular “Wildlife Weekends” – short and interactive courses suitable for the beginner birder right up to the seasoned twitcher. “When I am doing the courses, I am 100 percent with the people from the minute I wake up to the moment I go to bed. Whatever I am doing, they will get a chance to do. I take them for walks, do some ringing with them and tell them more about birds and Cape Clear in general. You're not sitting in a classroom, you're walking and talking and learning all the time,” he explained. “Participants will learn how to identify birds by looking at things like bill shape, the size of the bird, the colour, what they’re feeding on and their location. They will learn some basic birdwatching knowledge and a little bit of fieldcraft, and, of course, get plenty of enjoyment. There is the social side to the weekend, too. Every evening, we go to the pub and discuss what has happened during the day. If people leave here happy, have had a good time and want to come back, it’s a success in my eyes.” In addition to Steve’s Wildlife Weekends, Cape Clear also plays host to the week-long “Seabirds to Songbirds” courses led by Dick Coombes. Through these courses, which will take place on two dates in 2024, participants will gain an insight into the world of migration and the joys of sea-watching.
Cory's Shearwater. Photo: Artie Kopelman
When the guests have packed their bags and set sail for the mainland, Steve returns to his work on the island. There’s no such thing as a typical day, however, as his activities tend to shift with the changing weather and seasons. In late summer and early autumn, he might sit on the cliffs and monitor the seabirds – an activity known as seawatching. If the weather is calm and there are birds around, he might open the nets to do some ringing. To date, approximately 23,000 individual birds have been ringed on Cape Clear, Steve said, adding that it is a job he feels extremely lucky to carry out. “It is a total privilege to be able to hold on to a bird and show people the topography of it, how the feathers work and why the bill shape liked that. It is a lot easier to see close up. To see the look of awe on kids’ faces when they see a Robin or Blue Tit is fantastic. They're amazed,” he said. “Ringing itself is wonderful always but it’s always nice to catch something that’s rare, like a Golden Oriole, for example. Anything you catch that you're not expecting to is a bonus.” Information gathered from ringing and monitoring work has taught us a lot about how bird populations are faring on the island. For example, as Steve explained, Herring Gull numbers on the island have declined dramatically in recent years, likely due to a combination of factors including overfishing. Meanwhile, Fulmar numbers have risen as many have taken over former Herring Gull breeding sites. “Song Thrushes seem to be doing incredibly well around here, whereas around most of the rest of Europe they are declining. Maybe it is the fact there aren’t so many pesticides being used here. We don’t know for sure,” continued Steve. “We seem to be getting more Mediterranean seabirds also. Last year, I had a record year for Cory Shearwaters for the whole south coast of Ireland. We had tens of thousands coming through.” Ringing also gives us information about migration routes. We now know that some of the birds recorded on Cape Clear have travelled a tremendous distance to be there.
Sedge Warbler. Photo: Clive Timmons.
“I caught three adult Sedge Warblers in 2017 and up until three years ago, I was still catching two of the three when they returned to Cape after wintering in Gambia and Senegal. We did a very quick rough estimate on Google Maps and realised that these birds had pretty much done a circumnavigation of the planet in their lifetimes. It's an amazing feat for these tiny birds the size of Robins.” While Steve’s Wildlife Weekends are now fully booked for 2024 and only a limited number of places remain on the “Seabirds to Songbirds” courses, it is still possible to visit Cape Clear and experience the natural wonders that it holds. From April 8th, members of the public can take the boat from Baltimore and stay in the Bird Observatory’s self-catering style accommodation in shared dorms. For more information and to book, visit the BirdWatch Ireland website. Regardless of whether you visit Cape Clear for a course or on a self-guided trip, alone or with friends, you are sure to depart with additional knowledge and a renewed appreciation for Ireland’s bird life. “Capers say Ireland is the island off Cape and that this is the best place in Ireland to be. If you visit, you will learn a lot about the birds, you will learn more about the general art of birdwatching and hopefully, you will get to appreciate what a beautiful place Cape is. Come with an open mind. You are sure to learn something.” Find our more about and book a Cape Clear course in 2024.
